THE FORCES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17273, 14 September 1916, Page 7

THE FORCES.

STATEMENT BY DEFENCE MINISTER. [Per Press Association’.] DUNEDIN, September 13. It was hoped that a portion of the Seventeenth Reinforcements might parade in Auckland, but it has been found impossible for the men to do so. The Minister of Defence informed a reporter that he regretted this very much. It would have given great pleasure to the people of Auckland and to himself if a portion of the Seventeenth had been able to parade there. “ The camps, to the best of my knowledge, are excellent both at Trenthnra and Featherston,” said Mr Alien. •' Narrow Neck also is in a good state, and at Awapuni tliere is little troub.e. All that scieuco and ingenuity can do has been done to make the camps hygienic and .healthy. Wo are watch* ing very carefully any cases of sickness, and are in communication with the Mother Country and Australia to ascertain tbe latest development regarding the treatment of any special eases. We have had very valuable information from England and Australia.” The Minister said be wished to make a final appeal to eligible men to do their duty. Mr Allen said:—“There are a few more days to fill up the Twenty-first/ Reinforcements and the shortage of the Twentieth, and I hope all recruiting committees and others interested wi’l do their best to see that the Twenty-first come in in full numbers. We have cone so far with tbe vohintarv principle that the Government and (he country, I think, would like to see us finish w’th that principle, if possible. We will not be in a position to impose the ballot this month. It may be the end of next month before all tbe machinery is m working order, therefore it is important that the Twenty-first and Twentysecond Reinforcements, at any rate, should go in under the voluntary principle in full numbers. There are very satisfactory signs that the end of war .will be in our favour if wo maintein the efforts so splendidly made in the past. We in New Zealand have done our part, and I think it will yet be said we have done more than our part up to date. It will be our earnest endeavour to finish tbe war successfully. To do tin’s we must have everybody liable for service enrolled, in order that each man may have fair play if the compulsion of the ballot has to be imposed. It seems to me every man of military age ought to be a recruiting officer, to see that all his neighbours register, because that null bring every name liable to ballot.”